GM launches Volt in China

General Motors of China will receive its first shipments of an undisclosed number of Chevy Volts for retail deliveries this month.

The vehicles are to be priced at $79,000 (RMB 498,00) and as previously reported, are not eligible for incentives available to buyers of domestically made electric vehicles.

GM has at least for now resisted sharing key details of the Volt’s intellectual property with its joint venture partners that would have been required for its domestic production, and possible incentive eligibility.

The first Chevrolet Volts arrived in China at the HaiTong Port in Shanghai.

The company reported it has already received an initial shipment of 10 Volts at the HaiTong port in Shanghai for a demonstration fleet to be deployed in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

“This fleet of extended-range electric vehicles will provide consumers as well as ministry leaders, university professors and the media with a chance to experience an industry leading electric vehicle in daily use,” the company said in a statement. “GM will use feedback from the test drives and charging experience to better understand the application of electric vehicles in China and provide consumers with hands on exposure to the extended-range vehicle concept. This is critical, as GM and its joint ventures prepare to expand the offerings of vehicles powered by electricity.”

The company said it will also work closely with government and industry officials to help develop public electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

“China is one of the first global markets where the award-winning Volt will be sold through 13 specially selected dealerships in eight major cities,” GM said.

Specifically, the Volt will be made available in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan.

Source: GM-Volt.com